8.2

Overview

It might not be a car that you have heard about a lot, nor it is something you have seen a lot, but the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan has to be the best-looking sedan available in the market currently, especially in this price range. The car has that Italian-ness that luxury car owners crave for these days. All this shows that this car is here to stay and compete with the likes of the Audi A4 Prestige, the Jaguar 25T R-Sport and the Mercedes Benz C3000 Matic.

Starting with a price of $37,995, the Alfa Romeo might be just a shade cheaper than its rivals, but when it comes to features, it has to be miles ahead. This could force the potential buyers to dig in.

Powered with a 2.0 Liter inline-4 turbo engine, it generates about 280 hp at 5800rpm and 306 lb.-ft at 1400rpm, figures which are better than its rivals. However, the ride quality can be a bit noisy.

Quadrifoglio 4dr Sedan (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

Expert Review

carhp editorOctober 3, 2018

8.2

Overall Rating

7.6/10Features

10/10Engine

7.7/10Fuel Economy

7.5/10Interior

8.0/10Safety

Starting with a price of $37,995, the Alfa Romeo might be just a shade cheaper than its rivals, but when it comes to features, it has to be miles ahead. This could force the potential buyers to dig in.

Features

7.6/10

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sedan is an entirely new car from the one that was being made years before. This includes Giulia’s very own infotainment system and a host of toggle switches which give it a contemporary yet retro look.

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sedan is available in just three trims. The front-engine, front wheel drive, 5-passenger coupe which is powered by a 2.0 Liter turbo Inline 4 engine, with 7-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard.

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The base trim of the Alfa Romeo comes with features like a seat memory system, coupled with lumbar support and premium upholstery. However, the Ti variant is the one to go for as it is not much of a price difference, but it has things like a Touchscreen radio and reverse parking sensors.

Engine

10/10

"Alfa Romeo made some bold performance statements about the Giulia, and from what we've experienced so far, it appears Alfa followed through. Both Giulia and high-performance Quadrifoglio models boast strong engines for their respective segments, and all deliver an entertaining driving experience." - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sedan is powered by a 2.0 Liter Inline 4 Engine at produces 280 hp at 5800rpm and 306 lb.-ft at 1400rpm, which provides front wheel drive with the 7-speed automatic transmission as standard.

Models

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A4 2.0T Prestige

Jaguar XE 25T R-Sport

Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

Starting MSRP

$37,995

$39,400

$34,900

$41,500

Engine Type

2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4

2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4

2.0L, Turbocharged Inline-4

2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4

Power (hp)

280

252

240

241

Torque (lb-ft)

306

273

251

273

All the four cars are powered by a similar 2.0-liter engine which generates appreciable torque and powers. All are placed quite strategically at a similar price range as well.

Acceleration

Again, all of them are pretty similar; sans the Jaguar which is too far behind when it comes to acceleration In the bracket of 0-60MPH.The acceleration of the Alfa Romeo is smooth and is a peach to drive if you leave out the noise while driving.

Model

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A4 2.0T Prestige

Jaguar XE 25T R-Sport

Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

0-60 MPH

5.1 seconds

5.7 seconds

8.8 seconds

6.2 seconds

Quarter Mile

13.6 seconds

13.9 seconds

16.6 seconds

14.6 seconds

Engine Displacement

2.0L

2.0L

2.0L

2.0L

Emission (tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year )

6.6

6.6

7.4

6.5

In this particular scenario, the Alfa Romeo is the clear winner and that too by a clear margin. The Audi A4 though is not too far behind. The Jaguar XE lags behind the others in both the parameters, that too by a big margin, in such a closely contested parameter.

Handling and Steering

The Giulia’s easy to handle steering and peppy handling makes it a pleasurable experience. It is nimble on the turns, something its rivals lag. As mentioned, the ride quality is a bit noisy, specifically on a bad road. The Alfa Romeo does soar over in terms of handling and steering when compared with other. Also, one thing which could be done to make the cabin less noisy is to replace the flat tires with more conventional ones.

Braking

The 2017 Alfa Romeo has the brakes which matches its acceleration. Despite being one with the heaviest car in this segment, the brakes results are pretty decent.

Model

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A4 2.0T Prestige

Jaguar XE 25T R-Sport

Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

Front Brake Rotor Diam*Thickness (in)

13.0

13.3

12.8

13

Rear Brake Rotor Diam*Thickness (in)

12.5

13.0

12.8

11.8

60-0 MPH (feet)

123

105

123

109

There is a surprise in store here, as the Audi A4 is the fastest to stop, while the Alfa Romeo, as expected with its heavyweight, takes a little long, but that is fine.

Fuel Economy

7.7/10

Being the one of the heaviest amongst the three, the Alfa Romeo Giulia gives the best in class figures in terms of economy, with a city mpg of 24 and that of 33 on the highway.

Model

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A4 2.0T Prestige

Jaguar XE 25T R-Sport

Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

City (MPG)

24

24

21

24

Highway (MPG)

33

31

30

31

Combined (MPG)

27

27

24

27

The figures of the Giulia are matched by that of the Jaguar and the Mercedes Benz, while the Jaguar, like the other parameters, is quite far behind here too.

Interior

7.5/10

"Your interior experience will vary greatly, depending on trim level. The type of seats make the biggest difference when it comes to driving position or getting in and out. We found the rear seat to be tight on legroom and all the controls lacking a little bit of quality heft we expect in the class." - Edmunds

The level of opulence In the Alfa Romeo would not be the same as that of the other car makers. The material used for the interiors includes hard plastics, something you don’t generally relate with an Italian brand, however affordable it may be. The styling is also subdued. However, the built quality still makes it look premium and snazzy.

Seating and Comfort

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia is a two-row cruiser which accommodates 5 people. It provides heated and cooled seating as well. The passenger rear seats are also electrically powered. The driver’s seat has memory storage as well to adjust the seat as per your requirement on its own.

Interior Dimensions

Model

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A4 2.0T Prestige

Jaguar XE 25T R-Sport

Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

Passenger Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Head Room (in)

38.6

38.9

NA

37.1

Front Leg Room (in)

42.1

41.3

NA

41.7

Front Shoulder Room (in)

56.1

55.9

NA

54.7

Second Head Room (in)

37.6

37.4

NA

37.1

Second Leg Room (in)

35.1

35.7

NA

35.2

Second Shoulder Room (in)

53.6

54.5

NA

55.0

The seats are electronically powered providing ample support to the driver. They are made of premium leather upholstery. Add to that leather-wrapped steering wheel that can be adjusted to the preference and provides all wheels steering drive.

Interior Features The interiors of the Alfa Romeo Giulia include;

Front Seats w/Leather Back Material and Power 4-Way Driver Lumbar

10-Way Power Driver Seat -inc: Power Recline, Height Adjustment, Fore/Aft Movement and Power 4-Way Lumbar Support

10-Way Power Passenger Seat -inc: Power Recline, Height Adjustment, Fore/Aft Movement and Power 4-Way Lumbar Support

Heated Leather Steering Wheel

Memory Settings -inc: Driver Seat and Door Mirrors

FOB Controls -inc: Trunk/Hatch/Tailgate and Remote Engine Start

Smart Device Integration

8.8" Widescreen Color Display

Infotainment

The Alfa Romeo’s new infotainment system is easy to use, once you clear the first curve. It provides a premium sound system and a smart integration device. Add to that a set of 2 LCD monitors in the front, and it provides a great package.

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sedan has a spacious trunk. There is no load lip to lift up the baggage. The storage spaces are excellent with a 12V socket as well. The rear seats are foldable leading to some extra room. The cargo capacity that Giulia offers is 13 cubic feet which is really good.

Model

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A4 2.0T Prestige

Jaguar XE 25T R-Sport

Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

Trunk Volume (ft3)

13.0

13.0

14.7

12.6

Audi A4 and Alfa Romeo Giulia have the same cargo volume of 13 cubic feet whereas the segment leader Jaguar has a trunk volume of 14.7 cubic feet.

Exterior

"An emotional, hot-blooded Italian sedan, the Giulia sets pulses racing even before you get behind the wheel."-Car and Driver

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has a very new styling. It's distinctly Italian and it's definitely sexy. The front has a gaping grille with an inverted triangle ion the center flaunted by huge air intakes on its sides. The headlamps are uniquely shaped and the LED DRLs give it a distinct look. The side has a sharp character line from the front fender to the rear doors. The tail lamps at the rear are also LED units and are very sleek. The car looks apart and will definitely catch eyes as there is something new to see from the sea of German mid-sized sedans.

Interior Dimensions

Model

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Audi A4 2.0T Prestige

Jaguar XE 25T R-Sport

Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC

Length (in)

182.5

186.1

183.9

184.5

Width (in)

73.7

72.5

72.8

71.3

Height (in)

56.5

56.2

55.7

56.8

Wheelbase (in)

111.0

111

111.6

111.8

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3521

3626

3350

3594

Track Width, Front (in)

61.3

61.9

62.9

61.5

Track Width, Rear (in)

63.9

61.2

62.9

60.9

Here again, the Alfa Romeo has the best dimensions amongst its rivals, leading to lots of space in the cabin, with loads of knee room. The wheelbase of the Alfa Romeo is pretty good too. In fact, all the three cars have an identical wheelbase of around 111 inches, showing the off-road capability of the cars.

Safety

8.0/10

The Giulia Sedan has been tested by IIHS and it has received pretty good ratings from the same. It, however, has not been tested by NHTSA but given the number of standard safety features you get, the car is a pretty safe one for its occupants. Of course, there is more security if you are willing to pay for it and you get some more safety features.

Competition

Alfa Romeo Giulia vs Audi A4

The Audi A4 also comes with an entry-level luxury price, but you wouldn’t know it based on its interior. It does come with features like the panoramic sunroof which does not come as standard in the Giulia. Unlike the Giulia, the A4 has sprightly handling without forgoing a comfortable ride. Both models have a powerful engine lineup and similar fuel efficiency, but the A4’s rear seats are a little roomier. However, if you look at practicality, the Alfa Romeo scores on that part, making it a clear winner here.

Alfa Romeo Giulia vs Jaguar XE R-Sport

It has to be said that the Jaguar is no match to the Alfa Romeo. Sans the Cargo capacity, you name the parameter and the Giulia is a clear winner. So, talk about the review, it is as straightforward as it gets, the Giulia is a clear winner here.

Alfa Romeo Giulia vs Mercedes Benz C3000 4MATIC

The fight between the Giulia and the Mercedes-Benz goes right down to the wire. Both generate almost equal figures in the engine capacity and the fuel economy. The cargo capacity is also almost equal. Also, Mercedes Benz’s gives a far more luxurious experience than the Alfa Romeo, making it a certain winner here.

Final Verdict

The 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia is on the lowest price rung of the brand. It pulls in some benefits from its higher priced brethren (such as real wood trim and a quiet ride), but it is noticeably less refined than the Germans. Still, the Giulia remains a very fun car to drive with a good engine and great handling. It looks great and its Italian. Its a sedan from Alfa Romeo the world had been waiting for so long to challenge the Germans and it really does give a tough time to the Germans. Its great value for what it is and its a much welcome change in this German dominated mid-sized sedan market. if you wish to stand out, the Alfa is your best choice.